The Isle College, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, opened in 1956 as the Isle of Ely Further Education College and Horticultural Institute. In 1983, it became a tertiary education college.[1] In 1987, its horticultural institute separated to become part of the Cambridgeshire College of Agriculture and Horticulture.[2] In 2006, the Isle College was dissolved and merged with The College of West Anglia to become the expanded college's "Isle Campus".

History

The establishment of a further education college on the Isle of Ely had been the long held ambition of Alderman J. W. Payne, the Chairman of the Isle of Ely County Council Education Committee.[3] In 1954, the County Council authorised the building of a new college[4] for "the provision of further education for all the young people of this county, similar to that already enjoyed by adolescents in other areas." In 1955 Alderman Payne became the first Chairman of the new college's governing body.[5] The first students entered the college in 1956.[6] The building incorporated what was said, at the time, to be "one of the finest concert halls in East Anglia."[3]

According to its own promotional material, in the late 1980s the college offered 750 full time study places.[7]

In 1994, the Further Education Funding Council inspectorate wrote: "Its provision is mainly designed for school leavers.  There is an extensive range of full-time courses in art and design, substantial provision in business studies and a broad range of GCE A level courses.  The college has made limited progress in expanding the range of its provision to meet the requirements of adults, those in employment and those without formal entry qualifications." The college's main catchment was Fenland district, south Lincolnshire and west Norfolk. The main feeder schools were Queens School, Wisbech, and the three Cambridgeshire community colleges, Cromwell, Sir Harry Smith and Neale Wade.[1]

Dissolution and merger

On 1 April 2006, Isle College was dissolved[8] and merged with the College of West Anglia, based in King's Lynn. The colleges voted to merge with the intention of attracting more capital investment, though there was speculation at the time that the Wisbech campus would be closed and a new campus developed in March.[9]

In 2012, the remaining land-based part of the college provision was moved to College of West Anglia's campus in Milton, Cambridge. This was blamed by some on government cutbacks.[10] 

College principals

The principals of Isle College have included:

  • H. R. Bailey (from its foundation)[6]
  • Harry Jones (1978 to 1993)[11]
  • Mark Taylor (to 2006 and merger)[9]

Former students

Some former students of the college's land-based courses have become National Trust head gardeners, zookeepers and to work for government agencies, such as the Environment Agency and English Nature.[10]

References

  1. 1 2 "Isle College: Report from Inspectorate" (PDF). Digital Education Resource Archive (DERA). June 1994. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  2. ↑ "Cambridgeshire College of Agriculture and Horticulture: Report from the Inspectorate" (PDF). Digital Education Resource Archive (DERA). February 1996. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  3. 1 2 Nomad (31 October 1959). "Let's honour him now". Isle of Ely and Wisbech Advertiser. p. 5.
  4. ↑ "Isle of Ely College of Further Education and Horticultural Institute, Wisbech". National Archives. 1954–1956. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  5. ↑ "40 Years Unstinted Service to the Isle". The Wisbech Standard. 10 July 1959. p. 1.
  6. 1 2 Bailey, H. R. (10 July 1959). "H. R. Bailey". Wisbech Standard. p. 12.
  7. ↑ "Isle College – Wisbech – 1988 Promotional Video". 1988. Retrieved 16 December 2020 – via YouTube.
  8. ↑ "The Isle College (Dissolution) Order 2006". legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  9. 1 2 "New college sites set to be revealed". Cambs Times. 13 January 2006. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  10. 1 2 "Wisbech's Hortic Station to mark closure with a reunion". Horticulture Week. 16 March 2012. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  11. ↑ Pearce, Seb (30 December 2016). "Tributes paid to former principal of Isle College, Harry Jones, who has died aged 86". Wisbech Standard.

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